Women's Fencing | 10/10/2025 11:14:00 PM

Granville, Ohio- The Denison Women's Fencing team aims to continue to build off of last year's regional and conference success this season. The team scored 33 -19, 39 -13, & 39 -13, respectively, by weapon (Epee, Foil, Sabre). The Big Red climbed USA Fencing's DIII polls and continues to achieve consistent wins across all divisions, including many notable schools such as Northwestern, Brown, MIT,  & The Ohio State University. 

2024 Season Recap 

Denison ended their season with a 111 - 45 overall record while going positive in all three weapons (Epee, Foil, Sabre). The season got off to a strong start with the Ohio State Duals (featuring teams from Ohio State, Cleveland State, Georgia Tech, Oberlin, and the Ohio State Club), culminating in a 4-1 record. The team would continue the momentum, achieving an 8-0 at the Vassar Invitational (FDU, Lafayette, Yeshiva, LIU, JHU, Hunter, Haverford, Stevents) and scoring 8-3 at the Brown Invitational (BC, Wellesley, SHU, Wagner, MIT, Brandeis, Wheaton, Tufts, Wayne State, Vassar, Brown). They continued throughout the season, going 5-2, 6-4, 5-0, & 3-3. The season featured many high appraisals, big victories, and honors for accolades directly and indirectly related to the strip, making the 2024 season one of the best in Big Red Fencing's history. 

A Look Ahead

This year, Denison has nine NCAA Regional qualifiers returning to their lineup.

Epee

• Sophomore Claire Anderson, who was named United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) Newcomer of the Year recipient after finishing the season with an 89-46 record and placing third at the Eastern Women's Fencing Conference Championships and 17th at NCAA Regionals.

• Senior Maggie Zhu, earned NCAA DIII All-Region honors last year after breaking the record for most epee career wins in program history (165). She placed sixth at the EWFC Championships and 16th at the NCAA Midwest Regionals.

Foil

• Junior Lal Ertün returns to action after finishing her sophomore season with a 74% win rate and breaking the program record for most foil wins in a single season. Ertün finished 10th at the NCAA Midwest Regionals and came in fourth place at the EWFC Championships. For a second consecutive year, Ertün earned USFCA All-American Honorable mention and CCFC All-Conference Team Honorable mention.

• Senior Velma Hall had an impressive junior year, finishing the season with an 82-28 record, which led to her becoming the first and only fencer in program history to secure over 200 wins. Hall placed third at the CCFC Championships, which is the highest placement at conference for the program. At the NCAA Midwest Regional, Hall placed ninth, and at the EWFC Championship, took home second place.

• Fellow senior Bella Musto returns to competition after qualifying for NCAA regionals for a third consecutive year, where she finished ranked 16th. At the CCFC Championship, she finished 20th, and ranks fourth in program history in total career wins in Foil with 104 wins.

Sabre

• All four NCAA-qualifying Sabres return to competition this year. Senior Delaney Brown finished 10th at the NCAA Midwest Regionals and placed 11th at CCFC Championships. Brown earned NCAA DIII All-Region in Sabre, and, for the second consecutive year, received CCFC All-Conference Team Honorable Mention. 

• Junior Corvus Endo broke the program record for most Sabre wins in a season with 97, and finished the season with the highest win percentage for a single season in program history (.764). Endo finished the season in eighth place at the NCAA Midwest Regionals, after earning Sabre MVP at the NFC Championships with a 20-6 record. At the EWFC Championships, Endo placed third, and at the CCFC Championships, took home 10th. Endo's impressive season led to earning USFCA All-American Second Team, NCAAA DIII All-Region, and CCFC All-Conference Second Team recognition.

• Senior Natalie Isberg wrapped the 2024-25 season with a 63% win rate, placing fourth at the EWFC Championships, ninth at the CCFC Championships, and 18th at the NCAA Midwest Regionals. 

• Rounding out the four returning NCAA qualifying Sabres is junior Joyce Yu. Yu placed 17th at CCFC Championships and was ranked 19th at the NCAA Midwest Regionals.

Up Next

Denison travels to Columbus, Ohio, for the OSU Open, hosted by Ohio State University. Epee and Foil start the day at 8:30 a.m., followed by Sabre at 9:45 a.m.